Bed hand rails

ABSTRACT

These bed hand rails are for use with rotatable hand grip rails on a bed. The rails comprise an arrangement of rails forming the hand grip rails, wherein the hand grip rails form an annular space; and a rigid or semi-rigid, perforated metallic cover is attached to the hand grip rails and covers the annular space. The cover has a rigidity that is substantially resistant to penetration by an appendage of a person.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/756,491 filed Jan. 5, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to bedside handrails for hospital and nursinghome beds. In the preferred embodiment, the handrail or grab bar rotatesor pivots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hospital beds traditionally had some type of collapsible side rail oneach side of the mattress, so that a patient on the bed cannotinadvertently roll off of the bed and receive serious injuries from afall to the floor. Padded covers, bumper wedges and the like also areused with the bed-rails to improve the comfort and safety of patients inlong-term care facilities.

One recent development is a padded gap protector that provides zeroclearance no matter what the articulated position of the bed is. The padremains in compression with the mattress and closes the gap between themattress and side rails. The pad provides a zero gap when the mattressis in a horizontal position and when the mattress is secured in anarticulate position such as an elevated position. The gapless bed railpads are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,422 issued on Feb. 19, 2002,which herein is incorporated by reference.

Another recent development is an enabler cover for hand rails used withhospital and nursing home beds. The industry often refers to these handrails as grab bars, positioning bars and the like. U.S. Pat. No.6,629,325 issued on Oct. 7, 2003, which herein is incorporated byreference, discloses an enabler cover for use with hand rails on a bedwhich comprises a pad which fits around the rails of the hand rails. Thepad, including a cover material, defines an interior space formed of thematerial. The material is flexible, non-abrasive and substantiallyresistant to penetration by an appendage of a person. The pad alsoincludes a foam material filling the interior space defined by the covermaterial. Further, the cover material includes a means for enabling theenabler cover to fit around the rails of the hand rails. A mesh coverthen covers any opening in the hand rails.

The hand rails prevent, to some extent, a resident from falling out ofbed. Internal bed positioning or assistance into and out of bed is themajor use. Hand rails typically have a tubular frame which mounts to thebed frame. The hand rails may rotate up to 360° and lock into a numberof positions. The hand rails, however, have an open center with thetubular frame circumscribing the opening. During operation or in astationary position, a limb or other body part should not extend throughthe opening. As a result, a need remains for improving these hand rails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides yet other improvements for hand rails used withhospital and nursing home beds. Instead of a mesh cover enclosing theopen center of the hand rails, I employ a perforated metal cover. Theperforated metal cover may be a plate, wire mesh and the like. Unlikethe flexible mesh of my previous cover, the metal cover is rigid orsemi-rigid and welded to the tubular frame circumscribing the opening.The metal cover is very durable and survives the everyday use of longterm care beds, yet is flexible enough to be substantially resistant topenetration by an appendage of a person.

Instead of the tubular pad of my earlier invention, I now use a spray onrubbery material. This spray on protection provides protectioncushioning yet is very durable and survives the everyday use of longterm care beds.

In my prior invention, the hand rails rotate 360° and lock firmly andsafely into position with a pin and hole. Height adjustment also wascarried out with the pin and hole arrangement. With time, however, thepins and holes wear and don't provide firm and safe positioning. I nowuse a lock bolt and lock nut assembly for rotation and heightadjustment. The locking assembly is very durable and survives the everyday use of long term care beds.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a perforated metal cover according tothis invention.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a rigid or semi-rigid wire meshcover according to this invention.

FIG. 3 shows a lock nut and lock bolt assembly according to thisinvention.

FIG. 4 shows a hand rail, bed, and cover according to this invention.

FIG. 5 shows an assembly and post for the supporting hand rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1 shows bed hand rail 10 according to this invention. Rail 10comprises an arrangement of rails 12 circumscribing an annular space.Cover 14 covers the annular space and is welded to the inside edges orrails 12 defining the annular space. Cover 14 preferably is a perforatedmetal plate. Rubbery cushion 16 is sprayed onto rails 12.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment for cover 14 for hand rail 10. In thisembodiment, cover 14 is a rigid or semi-rigid wire mesh.

The rubbery material of cushion 16 of this invention may vary widely.widely. Generally, it is a thermoplastic polymer produced by thecondensation reaction of a polyisocyanate and a hydroxyl-containingmaterial, e.g., a polyol derived from propylene oxide ortrichlorobutylene oxide. The basic polymer unit is formed as follows:R₁NHCOOR₂.

A preferred urethane is RUBATEX ⅜″ WALL: FIRE RATED (ASTM E-84 ME; 25flame or less; 50 smoke or less). The urethane generally has a densityless than 0.25 lbs/ft³. Preferably, the urethanes are flame-resistantand have a low smoke value. This usually is accomplished byincorporating a metallic salt such as aluminum trihydrate. Typically,the materials should have a flame spread of 25 or less and a smoke valueof less than 400 according to standard ASTM tests.

Rubbery cushion 16 also may comprise rubber and a resin componentcontaining at least one ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA). Ethylenevinyl acetate copolymers useful in the invention containing at least 15%by weight vinyl acetate. The resin component may contain only ethylenevinyl acetate copolymer or a mixture of EVA copolymers.

The rubbers, latexes or elastomers of this invention may vary widely.Examples of such elastomers include neoprene, EPDM, i.e.,ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, SBR, i.e., styrene-butadienerubber, nitrile rubber, and chlorinated polyethylene. Other eligibleexamples of rubbers include chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chlorinatedpolyethylene, ethylene-propylene rubber, isoprene-isobutylene rubber,chlorinated or brominated butyl rubber, and nitrile-butadiene rubber.

Natural rubber latex for cushion 16 can be any widely used centrifugedor creamed natural rubber latex such as NC 35% from ENNAR adjusted tothe proper KOH number and PH value for proper reaction to standardcuring agents and accelerators common to the trade.

Styrene butadiene rubber for cushion 16 is a low styrene SBR type suchas 27% styrene that will crosslink and cure with the same cure packageas incorporated in the formulation for the curing of the natural rubber.The SBR polymer will adhere in a satisfactory manner either alone or incombination with natural rubber to the top surface of rails 12.

The metals of cover 14 may vary widely. For example cover 16 may be madeiron, copper, aluminum and the like. Alloys such as carbon steels may beused as well. Molybdenum improves the toughness and wear resistance ofsteel alloys. Corrosion and oxidation resistance of steel is increasedwith the addition of chromium or nickel (stainless steel). These metalsand alloys may be used in either the perforated metal plates or the wiremesh. Rigidity may be controlled by the number of holes in the plate orthe openness of the wire mesh. Rigidity also is controlled by thethickness or diameter of the wire. The holes or spaces may very withcaution not to make them to large. A limb or other body part should notextend through the opening. The holes or openings are such that cover 14is substantially resistant to penetration by an appendage of a person.

FIG. 3 shows a lock nut and lock bolt according to this invention. FIG.3 shows lock assembly 30 which comprises lock nut 32 and lock bolt 34.Rails 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2 show lock hole 36. Lock bolt 34 may beprepositioned in lock hole 36. Lock bolt 34 may be loosened somewhat toallow for proper assembly. Lock assembly 30 is used to securely lock bedhand rail 10 in its various position regarding height adjustmentposition. Lock hole 36 extends through rails 12. Typically, one lockassembly 30 is employed with each bed hand rail 10. The assembly locksheight adjustment. Another assembly may be used, if desired to lock therotation position.

FIG. 4 shows a hand rail, bed and cover according to this invention.FIG. 4 shows bed hand rail 10 in position on long term care bed 40.Rails 12 form annular space 42 and cover 14 covers space 42. Spot welds(not shown) are on the outside of rails 12 away from an occupant of bed40.

FIG. 5 shows a post and assembly for supporting the hand rail. Assembly50 includes vertical post 52. Post 52 includes three sets of holessupport post 52. Lock bolt 32 passes through hole 36 of rail 12. Lockbolt 32 also passes through one set of holes 54 for height adjustment.Lock bolt 34 then secures rail 12 to post 52.

The following example further illustrate this invention.

EXAMPLE I

A preferred hand rail is a modified version of a Arcorail System. SeeFIG. 4. This hand rail rotates 360° and locks firmly and safely in fourpositions. Prior to rotation, loosen lock assembly 30 enough to allowfor rotation. To rotate the hand rail, grip it close to where the centerand top rail meet. Pull up lightly and turn it in either direction to adesired 90° position. To lock the hand rail, lower it. You will fee itdrop slightly into the 90° position. Push the hand rail from side toside to ensure that it will not move out of position. Next, tighten locknut 32 and lock bolt 34 to prevent rotation. To exit and enter the bed,rotate hand rail and lock it perpendicular at a right angle to themattress. Sit down on the opposite side of the hand rail furthest fromyour pillow. To sit up or to reposition while in bed, grasp the handrail by the center rail.

EXAMPLE II

In the preferred embodiment, cover 14 is a perforated metal plate madeof stainless steel. Cover 14 typically has holes that are one half inchin diameter. Usually the holes are uniform in size. However, uniformhole size is not required. In addition to these embodiments, personsskilled in the art can see that numerous modifications and changes maybe made to the above invention without departing from the intendedspirit and scope thereof.

1. A bed hand rail for use with rotatable hand grip rails on a bedcomprising: an arrangement of rails form an annular space; and a rigidor semi-rigid, perforated metallic cover attached to the hand grip railsand covering the annular space.
 2. A hand rail according to claim 1wherein the metallic cover is a perforated metal plate.
 3. A hand railaccording to claim 1 wherein the metallic cover is a metallic, wiremesh.
 4. A hand rail according to claim 1 wherein the metallic cover ismade of stainless steel.
 5. A hand rail according to claim 1 wherein thecover has a rigidity that is substantially resistant to penetration byan appendage of a person.
 6. A hand rail according to claim 1 whereinthe cover includes holes therein such that the cover has a rigidity thatis substantially resistant to penetration by an appendage of a person.7. A hand rail according to claim 1 including a rubbery coating coatedonto the hand grip rails.
 8. A hand rail according to claim 7 whereinthe rubbery coating is a spray on material.
 9. A hand rail according toclaim 7 wherein the rubbery coating is a urethane.
 10. A hand railaccording to claim 7 wherein the rubbery material is a natural orsynthetic rubber.
 11. A hand rail according to claim 7 wherein therubbery coating has a density less than 0.25 lbs/ft³.
 12. A hand railaccording to claim 1 including at least one lock assembly to securelylock the bed rail in various position regarding height adjustment androtated position.
 13. A hand rail according to claim 12 including onelock assembly for height adjustment and a second lock assembly for arotation position.
 14. A hand rail according to claim 12 wherein therotatable hand grip rails are adapted to rotate 360°.
 15. A hand railaccording to claim 12 wherein the rotatable hand grip rails are adaptedto firmly lock in position.
 16. A hand rail according to claim 12wherein the rotatable hand grip rails lock in four positions.
 17. A handrail according to claim 12 wherein the four positions are spaced apart90°.